There have only been 24 perfect games in Major League Baseball history, making it one of the rarest events that can happen in a game.
There has not been one since Domingo German threw one in 2023 for the New York Yankees.
On Sunday, Miami Marlins pitcher Eury Perez was six outs away from joining that very exclusive group of pitchers. He never got the chance to pursue it further, as the Marlins made the outrageous decision to pull him after seven perfect innings and only 92 pitches thrown.
It not only cost Perez and the Marlins a perfect game and no-hitter, it nearly cost them the game, forcing them to barely hold on for a 9-8 win against the Athletics.
Marlins pull Eury Perez after seven perfect innings
Perez was flawless on Sunday, not allowing a single base-runner and striking out eight batters in his seven innings of work. It was easily his best start of the season, and one that was flirting with history.
But a combination of it being his third start back from an IL stay, as well as the way teams rarely let pitchers go over 100 pitches even under normal circumstances, resulted in the premature hook.
It nearly cost the Marlins the game.
Even A’s fans were mad about it.